The Carnegie Medal in Literature is awarded to an outstanding book for children and young adult readers. Here we revisit some past nominees for the award.
You may remember the 2008 winner was Philip Reeve for his historical fantasy adventure Here lies Arthur (braille 4v; giant print 2v; TB 15639) in which he takes us back to a Camelot you would hardly recognise, where bloodthirsty yobs remove any romantic image you may have of the 'magical kingdom'.
The little white horse (braille 3v; giant print 2v; TB 7957by) Elizabeth Goudge has enchanted children for generations. One of JK Rowling's favourite childhood books, it tells the story of thirteen year old orphan Maria Merryweather who arrives at her ancestral home in the West Country, only to discover that it is her destiny to end an ancient feud.
Next is Alan Garner's The owl service (braille 2v; giant print 1v; TB 5881) which won the medal in 1967 and is still extremely popular today. Its events take place in a Welsh valley where an ancient myth is beginning to seep into the present day and into the lives of the teenagers staying there.
If you enjoy exciting thrillers, why not try The road of the dead (braille 4v; giant print 2v; TB 15125) by Kevin Brooks, which was shortlisted in 2007? Set in a dark and forbidding landscape, brothers Ruben and Cole learn that their sister has been murdered, and set out to retrace her final steps. Accompany them as they investigate the mysterious village and meet the strange characters who live there.
Another set of brothers appear in Frank Cottrell-Boyce's popular novel Millions (braille 2v; giant print 2v; TB 408085) which won the Carnegie medal in 2004. Damian and Anthony find a bag stuffed with cash and have to decide what they will do with it - will they be led into temptation or can Damian use the money for better causes?
Finally we end with one of the very first winners of the medal - Eve Garnett's The family from One End Street (braille 3v; giant print 1v; TB 3373). Set in the early twentieth century, this novel gives an insight into the lives of an ordinary family who had to do their best to make ends meet, and find their own ways of having fun. In these days of the credit crunch, perhaps we can learn a thing or two!